Cricket: Curran to Coach Zimbabwe National Squad

Zimbabwe's cricket board has named former bowler Kevin Curran as the new coach of the national squad after the African nation lost a test series to New Zealand.

Zimbabwe Cricket authorities said in a statement that Curran replaced Phil Simmons, who has been reassigned to other duties. The former West Indies all-rounder had coached Zimbabwe since last September.

Simmons came under intense criticism after Zimbabwe lost the first test to New Zealand by an innings and 294 runs last week. The outcry intensified after the Kiwis won the second test Wednesday by an innings and 46 runs.

Curran played in 11 one-day internationals for Zimbabwe and represented the country in the 1983 and 1987 World Cup tournaments. He retired from play in 1999 and has been in charge of the Zimbabwe cricket academy for the past year.